And that would mean the gardens, which cover the remains of the chariot track's eight starting gates, will also be sold.

Taylor Wimpey won permission convert the buildings into 11 townhouses and four flats last year.

As part of the planning agreement, the Sergeants’ Mess gardens stayed privately owned but with the public allowed access to them each day between 10am and 5pm.

Taylor Wimpey project manager Robert Taylor said the firm had now decided it was not financially viable to carry out the redevelopment of the two historic buildings.

However, he said the firm still intended to proceed with plans for a new housing development which was approved as part of the plans.

Mr Taylor added: "At the moment, the market is such that what we will get for the Sergeants' Mess and the Education Building is not as fincially as good we we would like.

"Therefore, we will not be proceeding with it. The new build, we will do ourselves."

Peter Herring, who is a volunteer with the Colchester Archaeological Trust, said the chance to buy the Sergeants' Mess and its gardens and the
Education Building was a golden opportunity too good to be missed.

And he urged the council to step forward to buy the buildings to save them and the gardens for prosterity.

An earlier bid to buy the buildings for about £800,000 failed - but Mr Herring said the price may now have dropped in the current economic climate.

He suggested the Sergeants' Mess could be converted into a heritage centre for the Roman circus and a Victorian military museum.

And he said the Education Centre would be a perfect home for the Colchester Archaeological Trust which has been given notice to quit its base in
Lexden Road.

Mr Herring said: "History is what defines a town. Without it, a town has no soul.

"Our Roman and Victorian heritage is there. I also believe there is a longer term heritage value by protecting the gardens and getting them into public ownership.

"I know times are difficult but if you have money there has never been a better time to buy.

"With interest rates as they are, the council is not earning much money on its cash deposits.

"It makes business sense to buy something at a low price which will benefit the whole town.

"It will also attract tourists to the area which will generate income."

Mr Herring said it might also be an opportunity for a consortium made up of investers and interested groups to snap up a bargain.

Alistair Day, conservation and deisgn officer for the council, said the conditions which existed on the Sergeants' Mess garden allowing public access would continue, regardless of who owned the
site.

However, he added: "That does not mean there cannot be a fresh application for alterations."

Comments (2)

These people are interfering with our unique heritage. Here we have the only known Roman circus in Britain. It is priceless as a heritage asset but our spineless council could not care less. The whole site should be given back to the people of Colchester so that it can be preserved and made accessible for visitors. It is a perfect candidate for grant funding as a heritage site. It was sold off very cheaply in the first place and it is clear that Taylor Wimpey now want to offload it as quick as they can. We now have the selfish prattlings of a property speculator who realises the potential problems of owning this Scheduled Ancient Monument and is only interested in self gain, rather than the good of the country. But do Colchester Borough Council care? Clearly not otherwise they would never have allowed the starting gates to be sectioned off for use as a private garden! They should all be ashamed of themselves.

These people are interfering with our unique heritage. Here we have the only known Roman circus in Britain. It is priceless as a heritage asset but our spineless council could not care less. The whole site should be given back to the people of Colchester so that it can be preserved and made accessible for visitors. It is a perfect candidate for grant funding as a heritage site. It was sold off very cheaply in the first place and it is clear that Taylor Wimpey now want to offload it as quick as they can. We now have the selfish prattlings of a property speculator who realises the potential problems of owning this Scheduled Ancient Monument and is only interested in self gain, rather than the good of the country. But do Colchester Borough Council care? Clearly not otherwise they would never have allowed the starting gates to be sectioned off for use as a private garden! They should all be ashamed of themselves.Sdapeze

These people are there to make money for their shareholders. Nothing wrong with that. It is Colchester Council's planning committee that is to blame for every bit of development around Colchester. If it takes something away from Colchester's unique heritage, it's because the planning committee see fit for it to happen. They seem to be out of our control under the control of the builders.

These people are there to make money for their shareholders. Nothing wrong with that. It is Colchester Council's planning committee that is to blame for every bit of development around Colchester. If it takes something away from Colchester's unique heritage, it's because the planning committee see fit for it to happen. They seem to be out of our control under the control of the builders. Flip Flop

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